Framed wall plate prefabrication method and apparatus



Jan. 27; 1970 349L809 FRAMED WALL PLATE PREFABRICATION METHOD AND.APPARATUS Filed Fep. 27, 1967 FHHUSCHNEIDER 2 Sheets-$heet 1 TORNEVS,Jan. 27, 1970 6 F. H. SCHNEIDER 3,491,809

FRAMED WALL PLATE PREFABRICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27,1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 k \y/W INVENTOR. 62 59 61 65 Fnwmc H.6cHmwER'TTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,491,809 FRAMED WALL PLATEPREFABRICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS Fredric H. Schneider, 4521 MerrillAve., Oakland, Calif. 94619 Filed Feb. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 618,857 Int.Cl. B27c 9/00 US. Cl. 144--3 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Amethod of prefabricating plates to be incorporated in framed wallconstructions and apparatus for expeditiously conducting the steps ofthe prefabrication method. A template representative of the plates islaid out from a building plan and marked with indicators representativeof the positions of studs, cripples, and other members which are to besecured to the plates in the construction of a framed wall. The templateis incorporated in a jig and the plates are positioned in paralleladjacent relation to the jig. The plates are stamped, and drilled toprovide nail holes, in accordance with the template indicators. Stampingand drilling are facilitated by apparatus including the jig, andstamping and drilling means movable along the plates to positionscorresponding to the jig indicators.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the construction of framed wallstructures for buildings and the like, it has been the usual practice toappropriately mark the plates in accordance with dimensions and otherinformation derived directly from the building plan to indicate thelocations at which studs, cripples, etc., are to be nailed to theplates. The necessary measurements, computations, and markings have beenaccomplished on the job and then the studs, etc. have been nailed to theplates to provide a framed wall for erection. It will be appreciatedthat such on-the-job fabrication of the plates is time consuming andrequires substantial skill on the part of the construction worker inderiving error free measurements and computations. Various attempts havebeen made to obviate the situation, for example, complete framed wallstructures have been prefabricated .at the factory and shipped intact tothe building site for erection. However, such an expedient isdisadvantageous from the standpoint of the space required for shipmentof the framed walls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with theprefabrication of plates in a relatively rapid manner and without theexercise of measuring and computing skills on the part of theconstruction worker. The plates may be prefabricated at the factory andcompactly shipped to the building site for nailing of studs, cripples,etc. thereto to construct a framed wall. Alternatively, the plates maybe rapidly and expeditiously prefabricated at the building site.

A prefabrication method of accomplishing the foregoing involves the useof a premeasured and premarked template having indicator markingsrepresentative of locations on the plates at which studs, cripples, andother construction members are to be nailed in accordance withdimensions and other information derived from a building plan. Once theindicator markings have been applied to the template, no furthermeasurements or computations are required to find the relative locationsof the construction members that are to be secured to the plates. Sincea number of walls in a building are typically identical, 21 singletemplate may be employed as being representative of all of the plateswhich are to be incorporated in these identical walls.

The template is used as a part of a jig which may have additionalindicators, such as stops, representative of construction members havingconventional fixed spacings, e.g., studs at 16 inch centers. Top andbottom plates are stacked and positioned in parallel spaced relation tothe jig. The plates are then drilled to provide nail holes, and/orstamped on the sides thereof in correspondence with the jig indicators.In this manner, the plates are prefabricated without requirement ofmeasurement and computation.

In order that the prefabrication method may be expeditiously conductedin a minimum of time, the invention further provides apparatus includingstamping and drilling means in combination with the jig. In basicrespects a platform is arranged for slidable translation along theplates, such pltaform carrying a drill press mechanism and stampingdevices. The platform is also provided with an index element foralignment with the jig indicators, which elements is aligned with thedrills of the drill press mechanism and centers of the stamping devices.When the index element is aligned with the jig indicators, the drillpress mechanism and stamping devices are actuated to thereby drill andstamp the plates in correspondence with the indicators. A fixture mayalso be provided for slidable translation along the plates to positionsof alignment with the jig indicators. When the fixture is aligned withan indicator, windows provided in the fixture frame portions of thesides of the plates corresponding to the position of the indicator.Appropriate marking ditfserent from those afforded by the stampingdevices may then be applied to the plates through the windows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view ofplate drilling and stamping apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention in operative association with plates to be drilled and markedat predetermined locations to facilitate construction of a framed wallof a building or the like.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken at line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the apparatus.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken at line 44 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational view on an enlarged scaleillustrating the manner in which sections of a jig of the apparatus arejoined.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Considering first the apparatusof the invention with particular reference to FIGURE 1, it will be notedthat same is arranged to facilitate drilling and marking of upper andlower plates 11, 12 at predetermined locations to facilitate thesecurance of studs, cripples, and other building elements therebetweenin the construction of a framed wall in a minimum of time and with aminimum of on the job skill by the construction workers. The apparatusincludes a jig 13 adapted to indicate the predetermined locations of theplates which are to be drilled and/or marked. The jig comprises asupport table 14 in the form of an elongated board 16, such as a 4 x 4,

which is advantageously provided with an expendible sill 17 secured toits upper surface. A shelf 18 is provided along the length of the table,and such shelf is preferably in the form of a tubular rectangular member19 secured to the lower portion of the board 16 in laterally offsetrelation as by means of brackets 21 (see FIG. 2). A plurality of stops22 are secured to the shelf 18 at predetermined longitudinally spacedpositions corresponding to, for example, the centers of studs in aframed wall, typically 16 inch centers. A flexible template 23,preferably of metal tape, is clamped or otherwise secured along theupper surface of the shelf 18. The template is provided with indicatingindicia or markers previously laid out in accordance with measurementsderived from a building plan to indicate the positions of studs,cripples, and other building elements. It is of importance to note thatsince the shelf member 19 is tubular, water may be circulatedtherethrough to maintain a relatively constant temperature. The member19, template 23, and stops 22 being of metal, they are all maintained atsubstantially the same relatively constant temperature to provide a highorder of dimensional stability of the template indicators and stops. Theplates 11, 12 are secured to the upper surface of the support table 14,i.e., on top of the expendible sill 17. Thus, the plates are disposedadjacent to the template and stops of the jig. The jig may beadvantageously formed in sections as shown in FIGURE 5. Moreparticularly, the table is formed in sections 12' joined at their endsby means of undercut joints 15. The tubular member 19 is likewise formedin sections 19' provided with tubular nipples projecting from theiropposite ends. The nipples of adjacent sections are communicably joinedby flexible tubing 25 secured thereto as by means of clamps 30. Watermay thus be circulated from section to section.

'In order that the plates 11, 12 may be drilled and marked in accordancewith the various jig indications, the apparatus includes drilling andstamping means 24 in operative association with the jig. Suchmeansinclude a platform 26 adapted for slidable movement longitudinally alongthe plates 11, 12, and thus along the jig. The platform preferablycomprises an elongated rectangular base plate 27 having downwardlyfacing channel members 28 at its opposite ends arranged to engage theopposite sides of the plates 11, 12. Means are provided on the lowersurface of base plate 27 to render the platform 26 readily slidablealong the plates 11, 12. More particularly, nylon discs 29 or the likeare secured to such lower surface to act as runners for the platform.Handles 30 are secured to the channel members 28 to facilitatemanipulation of the platform along the plates.

The platform carries a drill press mechanism 31 for drilling the platesat predetermined positions determined by the jig 13. The mechanismpreferably includes a pair of longitudinally spaced upright posts 32, 33for mounting a vertically translatable carriage 34. The carriage isprovided with sets of collars 36 at its opposite ends which are slidablealong the posts to thus facilitate the translation of the carriage. Thecarriage carries a pair of trans versely opposed electric drillingmachines 37 each having a chuck 38 mounting a vertical drill 39. Thedrills are aligned with a pair of transversely spaced apertures 41 inthe platform base plate 27. The power cords 42 to the motors of thedrilling machines 37 are connected to a junction box 43 mounted upon theplatform and having a power cord 44 for energizing both drillingmachines. The carriage is resiliently maintained in a normal upwardposition by means of a spring 46 secured vertically between one of theposts 32 and the carriage. To effect vertical translation of thecarriage, an actuating arm 47 is provided with one end pivotally securedto the platform, and an intermediate portion pivotally and slidablysecured to the carriage as indicated at 48. The opposite end of the armis provided with an Operating handle 49 which may be grasped to enablethe arm to be pivoted plates with the special markings prior todrilling. To this downward, whereupon the carriage is translateddownward against the loading of spring 46. The drills 39 are thus moveddownward through the apertures 41 into drilling engagement with theplates 11, 12. The extent of downward movement of the carriage anddrills is limited by means of a stop collar 51 concentrically securedabout one post 33. In order that the normal position of the handle 49may be varied to suit the likes of the individual operator, pivoting ofthe first end ofthe arm 47 is arranged to be variable as to the pivotposition. In this regard, a plate 52 is secured to the base of post 33and provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 53. A pivot pin 54extending through the first end of the arm is selectively engageablewith any one of the apertures to thus vary the normal position of handle49.

The platform 26 is also provided with stamping means for selectivelystamping the opposite sides of the plates 11, 12 in correspondence withholes drilled by the drill press mechanism 31. More particularly, a pairof wing plates 56, 57 are hingedly secured to the opposite side edges ofbase plate 27, as indicated at 58, for pivotal movement aboutlongitudinal axes. Depending from the wing plates, there are providedbrackets 59, 61 for respectively mounting pairs of vertically spacedplunger actuated stamping devices 62, 63. The inner ends of the bracketsengage the sides of the plates and thereby support the wing plates inhorizontal position. The devices 62, 63 have actuating handles 64, 66which, upon being depressed, urge stamps inwardly against the sides ofthe plates to thereby imprint same with suitable indicia. Two stampingdevices are employed on each side of the platform 26 to insure stampingof both plates even though they are warped. A stop engaging or indexingelement 67 projects longitudinally from the lower end of bracket 59carried by wing plate 56 for engagement with the stops 22 of jig 13 whenthe plate is horizontally disposed. The end face of the element 67coincides with a vertical transverse plane through the drills 39 andcenters of the stamping devices 62, 63. Thus, the drills and stampingdevices are positioned in coincidence with the stops whenever same areengaged by the element 67. When the wing plate 56 is pivoted upwardly,the element 67 is elevated relative to the stops and is not engageabletherewith. The platform 26 can be then moved along the plates past astop. The wing plate may be then lowered such that the element 67 willengage the next stop and appropriately position the drills and stampingdevices for actuation.

In some instances it is desirable that a number of consecutive stops bebypassed by the platform. Latch means are therefore provided toselectively latch the Wing plate 56, and preferably also the wing plate57 in upwardly pivoted positions. Such latch means may simply comprise apair of latch arms 68, 69 pivotally secured at one end to the base plate27 adjacent the opposite sides thereof for movement about longitudinalaxes. The arms extend downwardly and rest upon the side edges of thewing plates, as shown in full line in FIGURE 4. The arms are providedwith notches 71, 72 at positions spaced from the free ends thereof. Theedges of the wing plates are engageable in the notches upon pivoting ofthe plates and arms upwardly to the dashed line positions depicted inFIGURE 4. The plates are thereby latched in elevated positions whereinthe brackets 59, 61 are out of contact with the sides of the plates andthe index member 67 is not engageable with the stops. The platform maythus be freely moved along the plates.

In some instances, the template 23 indicates portions of the plates notadjacent the stops 22 which are nevertheless to be drilled and/orstamped, sometimes with special markings not afforded by the stampingdevices 59, 61. Drilling at the proper locations is facilitated bymerely positioning the element 67 opposite the appropriate templateindicators and actuating the drill press mechanism 31. Generally, it isdesirable to stamp the end a fixture 73 is advantageously provided tocooperate with the template in a manner which enables the markings to beproperly located relative to the template indicators. The fixturepreferably includes a 90 angle member 74 having one leg 76 adapted torest on the top surface of the upper plate and the other leg 77 adaptedto engage the sides of both plates. The leg 77 has a pair oflongitudinally spaced windows 78 on opposite sides of its center. Anindexing tab 79 projects outwardly and downwardly from the center of theleg 77 into close proximity to the template. Thus, when the tab ispositioned adjacent certain ones of the template indicators, the windows78 frame the appropriate portions of the plates which are to be marked.A suitable marking device is then extended through the windows intoengagement with the sides of the plates to apply the special markingsthereto. For example, markings indicative of a stud and cripple areconveniently applied in this fashion.

The apparatus described hereinbefore is particularly suited to theconduct of a plate prefabrication method in accordance with the presentinvention. In the initial stages of the method, a template is laid ofiand labelled in accordance with dimensions and construction detailsderived from a plan illustrating the plates and cooperating buildingelements which are to be joined in the construction of a frame wall. Thetemplate is thus an accurate representation of a plate and includesindicator labels marking the positions of studs, cripples, and otherbuilding elements relative to the desired plate. The labelled templatemay be employed alone, or with other indicator means such as the stops22 to provide a jig. Top and bottom plates are next stacked andpositioned in parallel adjacent relation to the jig. The sides of theplates are marked, as by stamping, and nail holes are drilled throughthe plates in accordance with the indicators of the jig. In this regard,the stamping and drilling means employed to conduct the foregoing stepsof the method are located adjacent the proper portions of the plates bylateral alignment thereof with the jig indicators. The apparatus of theinvention previously described herein facilitates this alignment with aminimum of time and effort.

More particularly, in the use of the apparatus to conduct the lattermethod steps, the platform 26 of the drilling and stamping means 24 isplaced upon the plates 11, 12 in slidable relation thereto. Where thejig indicators are representative of studs having conventionalincremental spacings, i.e., 16 inch centers, and are aligned with thestops 22, the platform is merely moved along the plates to a position ofengagement of the element 67 with a stop. The drill press mechanism 31is actuated to drill nail holes through the plates, and the stampingdevices 59, 61 are actuated to stamp stud markings on the sides of theplates. The wing plates 56, 57 are raised to enable the platform 26 tobypass the stop and then lowered to enable the element 67 to engage thenext successive stop. When the next stop is engaged, the drilling andstamping procedure is repeated. Where the jig indicators provided on thetemplate are not of conventional spacing and represent studs, cripples,etc. positioned at other than the distance between the stops 22, thefixture 73 is advantageously employed to locate the portions of theplates to be marked to correspond to the jig indicators. As notedpreviously, this is accomplished by positioning the tab 79 of thefixture adjacent an indicator and applying markings through the windows.Drilling of nail holes at such a location is accomplished by aligningthe element 67 of platform 26 with the jig indicator and actuating thedrill press mechanism.

It will be appreciated that in accordance with the foregoing method,plates may be prefabricated in a relatively rapid manner with a minimumrequirement of skill on the part of the construction worker. Thetemplate being previously laid out, no measurements are required by theconstruction worker in the fabrication of the plates. The plates may beprefabricated at the plant for shipment to the work site, orprefabricated on the job with the aid of the premeasured template 23.The invention thus enables framed wall structures to be constructed in aminimum of time and with a minimum of effort.

What is claimed is:

1. Plate prefabrication apparatus comprising a jig having a plurality oflongitudinally spaced indicators and a table for supporting plates inparallel adjacent relation to said indicators, a platform adapted forslidable translation along said plates, a drill press mechanism carriedby said platform having drills selectively extendible through saidplatform, stamping means carried by said platform having centens in atransverse plane extending through said drills, and index means carriedby said platform in said transverse plane for alignment with saidindicators.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further defined by said jigcomprising an elongated metallic tubular rectangular member having anupper surface defining a shelf and adapted for the circulation of watertherethrough, an elongated table, means securing said tubularrectangular member in transversely spaced parallel relation to saidtable, a plurality of stops secured to said member at predeterminedlongitudinally spaced positions, said stops defining a first pluralityof said indicators, and a metallic template extending along said shelfhaving a plurality of indicator markers at predetermined spacedpositions, said markers defining a second plurality of said indicators.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, further defined by a pair of wingplates hingedly secured to the opposite sides of said platform formovement about longitudinal axes, and brackets depending from said wingplates for engagement with opposite sides of said plates to support saidwing plates in horizontal positions, said stamping means carried by saidbrackets.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, further defined by said tubularrectangular member and said table being in sections, said sections ofsaid member having tubular nipples projecting longitudinally from theirends, flexible tubing communicably joining the nipples of adjacent onesof said sections of said member, adjacent ones of said sections of saidtable having undercut joints therebetween.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, further defined by a pair of wingplates hingedly secured to the opposite sides of said platform formovement about longitudinal axes, brackets depending from said wingplates for engagement with opposite sides of said plates to support saidwing plates in horizontal positions, said stamping means includingplunger actuated stamping devices carried by said brackets for actuationinwardly into engagement with the sides of said plates, and said indexmeans including an index element projecting longitudinally from one ofsaid wing plates having an end face in said transverse plane engageablewith said stops when said wing plate is in horizontal position.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, further defined by a pair of latcharms pivotally secured to the opposite sides of said platform formovement about longitudinal axes, said arms normally resting on the sidewing plates, said arms having notches engageable with said side edges ofsaid wing plates when said wing plates and arms are pivoted upwardly.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, further defined by said drill pressmechanism comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced posts extendingupwardly from said platform, a carriage mounted for slidable translationalong said posts, a pair of drilling machines carried by said carriageincluding chucks vertically carrying said drills at transversely spacedpositions, spring means between said posts and carriage resilientlymaintaining the latter in elevated position, and an actuating armpivotally secured 7 8 at one end to said platform and having anintermediate 1,610,623 12/1926 Shipley 1443 X portion pivotally andslidably connected to said carriage 3,079,963 3/1963 Jensen 1443 to movesame downwardly responsive to downward pivot- 3,230,797 1/ 1966 Murschel144-92 X ing of said actuating arm.

DONALD R. SCHRAN, Primary Examiner References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS -R- 498,555 5/1893 Kelchner 144 3 X 29564;777; 144-93 753,0582/1904 Flocke 14493X

